AMERICUS, GEORGIA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's basketball team was on the road Wednesday evening for a conference matchup against Georgia Southwestern State and earned a 74–66 road victory. The Sand Sharks used a strong 9–0 run to open the fourth quarter to take the lead, which they never lost, closing out the win down the stretch.

The Sand Sharks improve to 9–7 on the season and 6–3 in Peach Belt Conference play, while Georgia Southwestern drops to 8–7 overall with a 4–4 conference record.

Leading the way for USC Beaufort was Taniyah Bowman, who scored 22 points and was one of three Sand Sharks to reach double figures. Izellah Kendrick recorded a season-high 18 points, while Janiyah Heyward posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Bowman opened the scoring with a driving layup after the Sand Sharks won the opening tip. Georgia Southwestern responded with seven straight points, taking a 7–2 lead. The Sand Sharks trailed 10–4 before back-to-back three-pointers from Heyward and Lydia Gattozzi tied the game at 10–10 four minutes into the contest. Georgia Southwestern regained the lead with a three-point play, and the teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter. Heyward scored four straight points to give her seven in the opening frame before a Kendrick jump shot, assisted by Carolina Coria, pushed USC Beaufort ahead 20–18 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter opened as a defensive battle with limited scoring. Heyward's layup off a Courtney Campbell assist being the only basket until the 7:47 mark. The Sand Sharks held the Hurricanes to 0-for-5 shooting before their first basket of the quarter. After USC Beaufort built a 24–20 lead, Georgia Southwestern answered with a 7–2 run to regain the lead and eventually extend it to 33–29. Kendrick scored the final basket of the half, but the Hurricanes entered the break holding a 35–34 advantage.

Georgia Southwestern scored first in the third quarter before Bowman and Gattozzi combined for four points to put the Sand Sharks back in front, 38–37. USC Beaufort extended the run to 8–0 following a Kendrick basket assisted by Gattozzi, making it 42–37. A three-pointer by GSW stopped the run, and after the Sand Sharks led 46–40, the Hurricanes responded with a 7–0 run to reclaim the lead. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, with Bowman tying the game at 49 before a late basket by Heyward sent the teams into the fourth quarter tied at 51–51.

Samantha Bardonaro opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, sparking an important 9–0 run for the Sand Sharks to take their largest lead of the game. USC Beaufort opened the quarter a perfect 4-for-4 from the field while forcing three turnovers in the first three minutes to build a 60–51 lead. Georgia Southwestern trimmed the deficit to as close as three points at 63–60, but the Sand Sharks answered by pushing the lead back to eight at 70–62 following basket by Bowman. USC Beaufort sealed the 74–66 victory with late points from Bowman and held the Hurricanes scoreless over the final 1:20 of the game.

The Sand Sharks return home Saturday afternoon to face North Georgia at 1:30 p.m. The theme for the game is a White Out.